Amelia Island Museum of History

The Amelia Island Museum of History is housed in a former Nassau County jail building and displays exhibits spanning 4000 years of Florida history. The collection includes artifacts and photographs documenting different periods and cultures that left their mark on the region.

The museum was founded in 1975 by the Duncan Lamont Clinch Historical Society and opened in 1979 inside the former jail building. The project grew from efforts to preserve and share the long and complex past of the island community.

The museum highlights the roles of Native American groups, European settlers, and wealthy families who shaped island life and society. Visitors can see objects and photographs showing how these communities lived and influenced the development of the area.

The museum opens Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM and Sunday from 1 PM to 4 PM, with groups benefiting from advance notice. The compact layout makes visits straightforward and requires no special planning or equipment.

This was Florida's first museum to feature spoken history programs, with trained docents bringing island stories to life through narration. This tradition makes visits an immersive listening experience that goes deeper into local narratives than written displays alone.

Location: Fernandina Beach

Website: https://ameliamuseum.org

GPS coordinates: 30.66771,-81.46380

Latest update: December 14, 2025 13:07